Adjustable open-end wrench having a sloping rod camming means to slide a rack catch



June 2l, 1966 Q WEBBEKlNG 3,256,759

ADJUSTABLE OPEN-END WRENCH HAVING A sLoPINC Ron CAMMINC MEANS To SLIDE A RACK CATCH Filed June 30. 1965 United States Patent 3,256,759 ADJUSTABLE OPEN-END WRENCH HAVING A SLOIING ROD CAMMING MEANS TO SLIDE A RACK CATCH Carl Webbeking, 3434 W. 148th St., Cleveland, Ohio Filed June 30, 1965, Ser. No. 468,258 j Claims. (Cl. ill-143) This application is a icontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Serial No. 410,250, led November '10, 1964.

This invention relates to open-end wrenches of the type having movable jaws adapted to vbe `quickly adjusted to t a particular nut or other work piece. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel means for adjusting the relatively movable jaws of a wrench to a de-V sired spacing and quickly releasing the jaws rwhen the wrench is to be removed from the work piece or adjusted to a nut size.

The wrench construction of the present invention provides an improvement over the construction shown in my prior U.S. application, Serial No. 410,250, -by providing for a reduced number of machined parts, greater toler ances for machining and fewer steps required in the assembly of the product. The improvement lies 'primarily in the adjusting means for quickly locating the jaws at a desi-red spacing and opening the jaws when desired to release the wrench from `the work piece.

As in the wrench of my prior application, the invention utilizes a ratchet and pawl mechanism wherein a pawl mounted in a movable jaw carrier is movable into and out `of engagement with ratchet teeth formed in the stationary part of the wrench head. The pawl is operated by means of a manually operable sliding button located on the movable jaw carrier. The button has a recess formed in its bottom `face and has a slanted cam rod mounted therein. The cam rod passes through a cam follower arm attached to the top of the pawl whereby movement of the button in a direction tending to open the jaws forces the slanted cam rod through the cam follower arm in a manner tending to lift the arm upwardly, thus raising the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet teeth. The pawl is preferably spring biased to its ratchet teeth engaging position as is the operating button. The operating button may also be used to lock the pawl in its ratchet teeth engaging position when the operating button is moved to its limiting position in a direction tending to close the jaws.

To adjust the jaws to a desired spacing-the operating button should be moved in a direction tending to open the jaws so that the movable jaw carrier will be moved to its maximum jaw spacing. The movable jaw may then be adjusted to size merely by pressing the jaws together until they fit a desired nut or work piece. A scale inscribed on the wrench head may also be used to set the jaws to a predetermined spacing. Normally, such a scale would be graduated in one-sixteenth inch increments or one-thirty-second inch increments in smaller wrenches.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a quick adjusting open-end wrench constructed with a reduced number of machined parts and which may be manufactured using a minimum number of assembly steps.

Another object of the invention is to provide an openend wrench which may be constructed using a minimum amount of machining and which permits high machining tolerances without sacricing quality and accuracy.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be* come .apparent by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of an adjustable open-end wrench embodying the present invention;

- the ratchet teeth of the plate 9.

'Patented J uner 21 ,i 1966 rice.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of a wrench head for an adjustable open-end wrench of the type shown in FIGURE 1 with parts broken away for the purpose of illustration;

FIGURE 3 is a further enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 showing the pawl in engagement with the ratchet teeth;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 and showing the pawl in engagement with the ratchet teeth; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged `sectional view similar to FIGURE 3 and showing the pawl lifted out of engagement with the ratchet teeth.

Referring more particularly to -the drawings, there is shown a quick adjustable open-end wrench utilizing an vadjusting means of the type embodied in the present in- 10. The plate 9 has ratchet teeth formed therein which are used to locate the jaws at desired spacings as will be hereinafter described.

The movable jaw carrier 2 includes a slide 11 adapted for adjustable interlocfation in the slideway 6. 'I'he bottom face 12 of the movable jaw carrier 2 has -a key 13 which is received in a slot 14 formed in the bottom face of the stationary portion y1, as best shown in FIGURE 4.

In assembled relation, the movable jaw carrier 2 may be slid relative to the stationary portion 1 to provide a suitable range of jaw spacings. The opening movement 'of the jaws is limited by a machine screw 15 received in a threaded bore in the bottom face `16 of the stationary portion 1. The end of the screw 15 projects into a slot 17 formed in the slide 11 and engages the end of the slot 17 when the slide 11 is moved to a position of maximum jaw spacing. This prevents the slide 11 from sliding out of the slideway 6.

Formed in the bottom face of the slide 11 is a chamber 18 adapted -to receive a pawl 19 which is mounted for reciprocating movement into and out of engagement with In the embodiment shown, the reciprocating movement of the pawl 19 is in a line angularly disposed relative to the perpendicular from the plane of the ratchet teeth, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 5. This construction aords a more secure engagement of the pawl 19 with the ratchet teeth, as will be apparent from the drawings.

A circular opening 20 formed in the Hoor of the chamber 18 extends through the slide 11 and into a slot 21 formed in the top face ofthe slide 11.

Mounted on the pawl isa carn follower arm 22 which,

into the slot 21. The arm 22 is attached to the pawl by means of a rivet having a stem which extends through acircular bore in the pawl 19 and a head 23 on the base of the arm 22. The pawl 19 is biased to its ratchet teeth engaging position by means of a leaf spring 24 interposed between the top face of the pawl 19 and the oor of the chamber 18. v I

Located on the top face of the slide 11 is a sliding operating button 25. The button 25 has a key portion 26 which fits in the slot 21 and which is guided for sliding movement therein. One end of the slot 21 is undercut to receive an extending lip 26a formed on the key portion 26, as best shown in FIGURE 3. This prevents the button 25 from lifting upwardly accidentally and releasing the pawl 19.

Located in the bottom of the button 25 is a transverse channel which, together with the slot 21, denes an enclosed chamber 27 adapted to receive the cam follower arm 22. A circular bore 28 extending angularly from one end of the but-ton and across the channel 27 is adapted to receive a small cylindrical cam rod 29, as best shown in FIGURES 3 and l5. The cam rod 29 passes through a circular opening 30 in lthe cam follower arm 22 and cooperates therewith to move the pawl 19 into and out of engagement with the ratchet teeth. When the button 25 is pressed to the position shown in FIGURE 5, tending to move the jaws to their position of maximum spacing, the cam rod 29 forces the cam follower arm 22 upwardly, thus raising the pawl 19 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth.

The operating button 25 is biased to the position shown in FIGURE 3 by means of a coil spring 31 located in a circular bore 32 formed in one end of the button 25. The free end of the spring bears against the end wall of the slot 21, as best shown in FIGURES 3 and 5.

Assembly The assembly of the quick adjusting open-end Wrench thus described is preferably performed as follows, beginning with the movable jaw carrier 2.

The cam follower arm 22 is mounted on the top of the pawl 19 using the rivet head 23, and the leaf spring 24 is placed in position. The pawl 19 is then inserted in the chamber 18 formed in the interior face of the slide 11. The operating button 25 with the coil spring 31 inserted is placed in the slot 21 and the cam rod 29 inserted through the bore 28 andthrough the cam follower arm 19.

The ratchet plate 9 is then fastened in the floor 7 of the slideway 6 using the machine screws 10 and the slide 11 inserted into position. The stop screw is then threaded into position to lock the movable jaw carrier 2 in the unit and the assembly is complete Operation To operate the wrench, the jaws are preferably moved to the maximum spacing initially before being applied to a work piece by pressing the operating button 25 in a direction tending to open the jaws. This lifts the pawl 19 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth, as shown in FIGURE 5, to permit outward movement ofthe slide 11. The wrench head B is then loosely applied to the work piece and the movable jaw carrier 2 pressed inwardly until the jaws 3 and 4 are tightly adjusted to the work piece.

The operating button 25 is then moved through its limiting position in the direction tending to close the jaws so that the pawl 19 is locked in engagement with4 the ratchet teeth, as shown in FIGURE 3. With the jaws thus locked at the desired spacing, the handle A may be turned to operate the wrench as desired. The jaws may be quickly released from the work piece, as described above.

It is to be understood tha-t in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, variations andl modifications of the specic devices herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. An adjustable wrench comprising a handle having a stationary jaw at one end and having ratchet teeth formed therein, a movable jaw carrier slidably mounted on said handle, a pawl mounted in said movable jaw carrier for reciprocating movement into and out of engagement with said ratchet teeth to locate said movable jaw carrier at a desired jaw spacing, a cam follower arm mounted on Vsaid pawl, a slidable operating button located on said said cam rod is disposed with a downward slope in th'e direction of opening movement of said movable jaw carrier whereby sliding said button in a direction tending to open the jaws lifts said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet teeth. i

4. An adjustable wrench as defined in claim 1 wherein the reciprocating movement of said pawl is in a line angularly disposed relative to the plane of said ratchet teeth whereby the upward movement of said pawl is slanted toward the direction of opening movement of the movable jaw carrier.

5. An adjustable wrench comprising a handle having a stationary jaw at one end and having ratchet teeth formed therein, a movable jaw carrier slidably mounted on said handle, a pawl mounted in said movable jaw carrier for reciprocating movement into and out of engagement with said ratchet teeth to locate said movable jaw carrier at a desired jaw spacing, a spring biasing ysaid pawl toward engagement with said ratchet teeth, a cam follower arm mounted on said pawl, a slidable operating but-ton located on said moveable jaw carrier and having a chamber formed in the bottom thereof adapted to receive said cam follower arm and a cam rod mounted in said chamber 'and being angularly disposed relative to the line of movement of said pawl and having a downward slope in the direction of opening movement of said movable jaw carrier, said cam follower Iarm being slidably received on said cam rod whereby sliding said button in a direction tending to open the jaws lifts said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet teeth.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 710,040 9/1902 Cahill 81-143 1,982,070 11/1934 Rivers 81-137 2,760,396 8/'1956 Simpson 81-145 X WILLIAM FELDMAN. Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ADJUSTABLE WRENCH COMPRISING A HANDLE HAVING A STATIONARY JAW AT ONE END AND HAVING RATCHET TEETH FORMED THEREIN, A MOVABLE JAWS CARRIER SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID HANDLE, A PAWL MOUNTED IN SAID MOVABLE JAW CARRIER FOR RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RATCHET TEETH TO LOCATE SAID MOVABLE JAW CARRIER AT A DESIRED JAW SPACING, A CAM FOLLOWER ARM MOUNTED ON SAID PAWL, A SLIDABLE OPERATING BUTTON LOCATED ON SAID MOVABLE JAW CARRIER AND A CAM ROD CARRIED BY SAID BUTTON AND BEING ANGULARLY DISPOSED RELATIVE TO THE LINE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID PAWL, SAID CAM FOLLOWER ARM BEING SLIDABLY RECEIVED ON SAID CAM ROD, WHEREBY SLIDING SAID BUTTON IN ONE DIRECTION LIFTS PAWL OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RACK. 